- What does abdicated mean in the following sentence?
- Gave up
- Sold
- Reinvested into
- Auctioned
To abdicate means to relinquish or give up a throne, power, right, or responsibility. It does not mean to sell (B), reinvest in (C), or auction (D).
- What does absconded mean in the following sentence?
- Touched the jury
- Reported immediately
- Left after discussion
- Departed secretly
To abscond means to flee or escape secretly and hide. It can also connote making off with something (e.g. “He absconded with the treasure.”) It does not mean to touch anyone (A), to report immediately (B)-an opposite-or to leave after some discussion (C), but to break out/take off quickly.
- What does aural mean in the following sentence?
- Related to the eye
- Related to the ear
- Related to the nose
- Related to the mouth
Aural refers to the ears or hearing. A corresponding adjective referring to the eyes (A) is visual; to the nose (C) is nasal; and to the mouth (D) is oral.
- What does benevolent mean in the following sentence?
- Secretive
- Stingy
- Kind
- Careful
Benevolent means kind or good. It does not mean secretive (A), i.e. keeping secret. In this sentence, stingy (B) is an antonym for “benevolent with his fortune.” Benevolent does not mean careful (D) or cautious.
- What does buttress mean in the following sentence?
- Limiting factor
- Support
- Overwhelming condition
- Obstacle
A buttress (noun) and to buttress (verb) mean support. Buttress is not a limiting factor (A), an overwhelming condition (C), or an obstacle (D) or barrier.
- What does cathode mean in the following sentence?
- Positive pole
- Negative pole
- Neutral pole
- Opposite pole
In electrolysis and electrophoresis, for example, electrons (negatively charged particles) come from a power supply along a negatively charged electrode, the cathode. Electrons return to the power supply via a positively charged electrode, the anode. Therefore, the cathode is not the positive (A), neutral (C), or opposite (D) electrode, or pole.
- What does charlatan mean in the following sentence?
- Quack
- Knowledgeable physician
- Procedural physician
- Medical examiner
Quack and charlatan are synonyms meaning phony, fraud, or faker. A doctor known as a charlatan or quack is not a knowledgeable physician (B) or a procedural physician (C). A medical examiner (D) is a specific job title for a licensed physician who is also a government-appointed officer conducting autopsies to investigate and determine cause of death, not a synonym for a fake.
- What does copious mean in the following sentence?
- Minimal
- Clear
- Maximal
- Foul
Copious means profuse or abundant (maximal, not minimal), which an antonym. This meaning is not related to, and does not mean, clear (B) or foul (D).
- What does defaming mean in the following sentence?
- Killing
- Badgering
- Suffocating
- Slandering
To defame means to slander, libel, or otherwise disparage the reputation or actions of another. It does not mean to kill (A), badger (B) or harass; or to suffocate (C) or smother.
- What does derive mean in the following sentence?
- Desist
- Deter
- Devise
- Deduce
To derive means to deduce; i.e. to draw from or arrive at through deduction, or to determine via reasoning. It does not mean to desist (A), i.e. cease; to deter (B), i.e. prevent or discourage; or to devise (C), i.e. design or invent.
- What does evoke mean in the following sentence?
- Sell
- Calm
- Call forth
- Exaggerate
To evoke means to call forth, elicit, or draw out, as emotions. It does not mean to sell (A), calm (B), or exaggerate (D).
- What does fallible mean in the following sentence?
- Careful not to err
- Falsely accused
- Loyal to his supporters
- Capable of mistakes
Fallible means able to err. It does not mean careful not to do so (A), falsely accused (B), or loyal to one’s supporters (C).
- What does germane mean in the following sentence?
- Relevant
- Obscure
- Limited
- Usual
Germane means relevant, pertinent, or applicable. It does not mean obscure (B), i.e. unclear or hidden; limited (C), or usual (D).
- What does grotto mean in the following sentence?
- Large cave
- Small cavern
- Hotel
- Motel
A grotto is a small cave, cavern, or hollow. It is not a larger cave (A), or a hotel (C) or motel (D).
- What does heedless mean in the following sentence?
- Thoughtless
- Pleasant
- Friendly
- Bitter
Heedless means thoughtless: to heed is to pay attention to, mind, or observe something, and heedless is not paying attention/ignoring. It does not mean pleasant (B), friendly (C), or bitter (D).
- What does innumerable mean in the following sentence?
- Limited
- Weary
- Countless
- Harmless
Innumerable means countless, or impossible to number or count. It is an opposite of limited (A). It does not mean weary (B) or tired, or harmless (D).
- What does instill mean in the following sentence?
- Infuse
- Delay
- Inscribe
- Indict
Infuse is the best synonym here for instill, meaning to impart, inject, introduce or put something into someone or something. These two words do not mean to delay (B), i.e. put off or slow down; to inscribe (C), i.e. write, etch, or imprint; or to indict (D), i.e. accuse.
- What does jovial mean in the following sentence?
- Merry
- Sad
- Somber
- Laborious
Jovial means happy or merry, the opposite of sad (B) and somber (C). It does not mean laborious (D), i.e. effortful, difficult, or painstaking.
- What does latent mean in the following sentence?
- First
- Growth
- Last
- Dormant
Latent means dormant, sleeping, or inactive; unrealized, or covert or hidden. It does not mean first (A), growth (B), or last (C).
- What does loch mean in the following sentence?
- Water
- Lake
- Gulf
- Ocean
Loch is the Scottish word equivalent to the English word lake. Hence lake is a closer synonym than water (A), which has many forms; or gulf (C) or ocean (D), both bodies of water different from a lake.